Chapter 34
"It's fine, Ness. It's.....it's what you do for your kids." She says with a shrug, as if risking her life for Johnny was nothing.
Vanessa tries to remain steadfast and practical in her response to Charity's statement that has made her heart skip a beat. "Well, if there's anything you need, just let me know."
"Actually.." Charity starts, apprehensively. "You could maybe get me a few bits together if you don't mind, seeing as though it doesn't look like I'm getting out of here any time soon." She says with a grimace. She hates hospitals.
"Yeah, of course. What do you need?"
"I dunno, just the usual stuff I guess - toothbrush, hairbrush, pyjamas, pants, charger.....whatever you think."
"Okay, I'll be back this afternoon with a bag for you."
"Thanks, Ness." She watches her leave, her eyes following Vanessa's every move.
***
Vanessa feels like an intruder as she rummages around Charity's room putting a bag together for her, but the kids had been more than happy to let her in, especially as she reassured them that their Mum/Granny was okay and would recover completely. Not much has changed in the room that they used to share and so she manages to find everything pretty quickly, thankfully. She's just looking for Charity's phone charger. Remembering that she used to keep one in the drawer of her bedside table, she opens it without thinking and quickly slams it shut again at the sight of the contents..
Her heart racing and her breath held after the gasp of surprise she'd taken, she shakily opens the drawer again.
The only things in the drawer are a photo frame with a picture of the two of them together, the letter she'd written to Charity after their break up, and the ring box from their engagement sitting on top. Her eyes swim with tears and, although she knows she shouldn't, she can't help but reach out with a shaky hand to take out the little, white box. She steels herself for disappointment - the ring probably having been sold or thrown away - and snaps the box open. But the ring stares back at her, exactly as she remembers it, and she has to sit on the edge of the bed to steady herself. Why had Charity kept it? Maybe she kept all of her engagement and wedding rings? No. She doesn't remember Charity mentioning any of them. And surely she would have seen them whilst they'd been together. She absentmindedly strokes her thumb over the diamond, as she had done many times before when the ring was still on her finger. Maybe.....maybe she did mean more to Charity than she thought..
She allows herself another moment of gazing at the ring fondly, before closing the box and placing it back where she'd found it and carrying on with the task at hand - finding a charger.
***
Back at the hospital, Charity smiles when she sees Vanessa entering her room, but her smile quickly turns into a frown when she notices Vanessa's nervous demeanor and the fact that she doesn't seem to be able to make eye contact with her. "What is it?" Charity questions.
"What's what?" She shrugs, as if she doesn't know she's acting strangely.
"What's wrong? You seem different. Is it Johnny?" She asks worriedly.
This snaps Vanessa back to her senses. "No. No, Johnny's fine." She notices the sigh of relief from her ex.
"What, then? Have I done something?"
Vanessa looks at her nervously, but isn't quite brave enough to look at her whilst she asks the question she needs to ask, so she brings her gaze to her fingers that she's twisting together anxiously. "I was looking for your charger." She says quietly. "Why did you keep it?"
"Why did I keep my charger?" Charity asks with a look of confusion.
"No. In the drawer.."
Comprehension dawns on Charity's face and she shrugs embarrassedly. "Dunno, I guess I had the ridiculous notion that one day you might want me to put it back, maybe. I know it's stupid. I'll get rid of it eventually.....just wanted to cling on to that dream for a little longer.."
"Don't....don't get rid of it." Vanessa whispers, her heart racing.
"No?"
"No. You might need it one day.."
"I might?"
"Yeah"
"Okay." She hesitates. "Ness, are you....are you saying what I think you're saying? Are you....are we.."
"Taking things slowly?" Vanessa fills in for her.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"Okay."
"You could sound a bit more pleased. I mean, it's fine if you don't want to.."
"No, I do! I do want to. Of course I do. I just.....I'm just surprised, that's all. Just trying to take it in."
Vanessa takes Charity's hand that's been resting on the bed between them and strokes her thumb across the back of it. Charity's eyes fixated on the movement.
"Can I....can I have a kiss, Ness?"
Vanessa lifts the hand in hers and places a tender kiss to the back of it, making Charity's breath catch in her throat. She swallows down the nervous anticipation.
"Not quite what I was thinking, babe" she quips cheekily.
"I know. I'm just....I'm just building up to it."
"Okay" Charity whispers. She's waited this long, what's a few seconds more..? But as the seconds tick by she starts to wonder if this is all just a dream. Maybe she's dead? Or in a coma? But then Vanessa tentatively reaches out her hand and traces a finger down Charity's sternum before making a fist, with the material of the hospital gown scrunched within her grasp. Slowly she edges her face towards Charity's, nervously biting her bottom lip, until their lips connect in a chaste, but love-filled kiss, her hand still resting against Charity's sternum. It's perfect - even better than all the times Charity had daydreamed about it happening, and she can't help but smile at the happiness she feels and the fluttering in her stomach that always appeared whenever their lips met.